₦airaland Forum

Reno Omokri shared his thoughts on his Facebook page. Read what he read below:

Ango Abdullahi is a liar from the pit of hell for saying that the Igbo should quit the North and that Northern money was used to develop Southern Nigeria. This is a direct quote from Ango, "I mean none of the Western and Eastern regions had the money to effectively run the affairs of its region until they get financial support from the Northern region." How can a nation progress with dishonest and tribalistic elders as Ango? The British author and historian, Colin Newbury has detailed in his 2004 book, Accounting for Power in Northern Nigeria, that for years before the amalgamation, Britain had been subsidizing Northern Nigeria because of the deficit in her budget. Northern Nigeria could not sustain herself financially talk less of supporting the South. If you are from the North this is a fact, not an insult. Do not blame me. Blame history. In 1913, Lord Harcourt agreed to a proposal from Lord Lugard to amalgamate Southern Nigeria and Northern Nigeria so that, according to Newbury "custom revenues from the south paying for the projects in the north". Right now, we should be building unity in Nigeria, however, we must not distort history to do that. Southern funds were used to develop the North. This is a historical fact. As a matter of fact, here is a direct quote from Lord Harcourt, the then Secretary of the Colonies who in 1913 said "we have released Northern Nigeria from the leading strings of the economy. The promising youth ...is about to effect an alliance with a Southern lady of means (referring to Southern Nigeria). Time Magazine in March 1963 wrote of Nigeria thus "the country numbered some 250 tribes and languages, three principal religions (Moslem. Christian, animist), and three big, traditionally hostile regions: the feudal, Moslem North, which claims half the entire population of Nigeria; the East, dominated by the astute, industrious Ibo tribes; and the West, richest and most advanced of all three, whose Yoruba tribesmen are Nigeria's most sophisticated citizens


Liar Ango Abdullahi should note the words "richest of the three". Northern intellectuals like Farooq Kperogi should please research and verify if what I have written is fact and if it is they should please call Ango Abdullahi to order.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/response-to-ango-abdullahis-support-for.html

Nkiruka, who was 7 months pregnant set herself and her husband, Emeka Nnatuanya, ablaze at the No 54 Middle Road, Sabon Gari residence in Kano over alleged infidelity.

Emeka was laid to rest today in his hometown, Umuogbu village, Awka in Anambra State.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/obituary-of-34-year-old-man-set-ablaze.html

As Ndi Anambra brace for this year's gubernatorial election in November, the grassroots support base of Governor Willie Obiano is further being consolidated.

This manifested again yesterday, at Ward One Otolo-Nnewi, in Nnewi North local government area when hundreds of people declared for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

Speaking on the occasion, the National Chairman of the Willie Obiani Support Group, Chief Jude Emecheta expressed optimism over the ability of Governor Obiano to easily coast to victory in the November 18, 2017, gubernatorial poll.
Chief Emecheta also said that there was no cause for alarm over the recent legal tussle concerning the National Chairmanship of APGA, pointing out that the matter would, as usual, be resolved in favour of the main stream of the party which has Governor Obiano as its undisputed National Leader and chairman, Board of Trustees.
The Willie Obiano Support Group National Chairman equally said that the imminent success of APGA in the forthcoming poll in Anambra state has further been guaranteed by the good governance and massive delivery of democracy dividends by the Obiano administration.
For his part, the chairman of APGA in Nnewi North local government area, Chief Chike Aguncha enumerated many completed and ongoing people oriented projects of the present administration in Nnewi.
Chief Aguncha emphasized that apart from Governor Obiano's verifiable achievements, Ndi Nnewi would vote massively for APGA because of their love and loyalty to the everlasting supreme leader of the party, late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
The event was witnessed by many APGA faithful from other parts of the state, including the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Empowerment, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim, the Transition Chairman of Idemil North Local Government Area, Barrister Asha Nnabuife and Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Grassroots Mobilization, Honorable Egbuna Amuta among others.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/anambra-guber-more-opposition-members.html

Man has the tendency of clinging to anything that will bring him peace and to some of these actresses, they have found solace in Islam.

The following are Nollywood actresses that turned Christianity to Islam.
1. Moji Olaiya : Although the late actress, Moji Olaiya came from a christian home but she converted to Islam after she had some ugly marital experiences . She had said that the reason she changed her faith was because Islam gave her more power and inner calm.
“Honestly, Islam is a peaceful religion. The aspect I love most is that you don’t need any pastor to get closer to God. You don’t really need anybody to pray for you. You can always pray on your own and Almighty Allah will answer your prayer without any intermediary. I have been doing that since I became a Muslim and it has always worked for me.

2 : Vivian Metche father was a born Catholic while her mother, from Deeper Life.She became converted after her failed marriage which left her with four children. She explained that the confusion among the Christian folks made her change,


In her words,” It is a personal decision. I understand the Koran more than the Bible… I was probably looking for peace. Yeah! That was what I was looking for and I found it in the Koran.”

3. Liz Da Silva
Liz da silva who has adopted a muslim name, Aishat became a muslim after she allegedly had a child for ex-NURTW Oshodi boss, Musiliu Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomo.

After the marriage failed, she got remaried to another muslim man known as Olaoye whom she had a very good relationship with, hence the need for conversion.

“In case you want to know I have a good relationship with my baby’s father and that is why I had to convert to Muslim and got a new name Aishat before the baby was named. I am a Christian, but I had to convert to Islam because of my baby,” she disclosed.

4. Liz Anjorin
Nollywood actress, Elizabeth Anjorin popularly known as Lizzy became a muslim in 2013. She faced alot of criticism when she left her old faith but it is nothing to her because she grew up with two religion. Her father was a christian while her mother, a muslim.

“Although my name is Elizabeth, which is the Christian name my dad gave me because he was a Christian. Then, I also have a Muslim name, Aishat, given to me by my mother, who was a Muslim. Also, some from my mother’s family members also named me Sekinat. Even my daughter’s name is Rufaidat. So, I grew with the two religions.” she revealed in an interview.

5. Laide Bakare
Ace actress, Laide Bakare also has a Christian background.She converted to Islam after she left her Christian husband and got married to alleged money bag in Lagos named Alhaji Tunde Orilowo . She became one of his many wives.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/5-nollywood-celebrities-who-changed.html

Award winning Nollywood actress and real estate dealer, Chika Ike is really a diva who always look smashimg whenever she steps out for any ocassion.

The beautiful Nollywood successful actress took her Instagram handle to share a breathtaking photo of herself looking like an angel. She is no doubt a beauty to behold.
more photos at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/chika-ike-slays-in-sexy-new-photos.html

Prominent Northern youth organisations ob Tuesday held a meeting in Kaduna where they asked Igbos residing in the region to leave on or before October 1st this year. According to The Sun, the youth organizations had their meeting tagged "Kaduna Declaration" in at the Arewa House in Kaduna state Tuesday.
According to the youth groups, their order for the Igbos to vacate the region is premised on the shut-down of major towns in south eastern part of the country on May 30th by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their sponsors.
Among the Northern youth groups present at the meeting were members of the Arewa Citizens Action for Change, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Arewa Youth Development Foundation, Arewa Students Forum and Northern Emancipation Network on The Igbo Persistence for Recession among others.

In a statement read out to journalists after the meeting, the spokesperson of the groups, Abdulazeez Suleiman said, the region was tired of the marriage between the Nortern and Southern region, hence the need for restructuring as been proposed by some Nigerian leaders like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Sen. Shehu Sani and others.

“The persistence for the actualisation of Biafra by the unruly Igbo of South-Eastern Nigeria has lately assumed another alarming twist which involved the forceful lockdown of activities and denial of other people’s right to free movement in the South-East by the rebel Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its overt and covert sponsors. This latest action and similar confrontational conducts which amount to a brutal encroachment on the rights of those termed as non-indigenous people residing and doing lawful businesses in those areas illegally demarcated and defined as Biafra by the Igbo, are downright unacceptable and shall no longer be tolerated”.

Speaking further, he said:

"The Igbo people of the South-East, without remorse for the carnage they wrought on the nation in the 1960s, are today boldly reliving those sinister intentions connoted by the Biafran agitation that led to the very first bloody insurrection in Nigeria’s history. Emboldened by the apparent indifference of the Nigerian authorities, the Igbo secessionist tendency is widening in scope and action at every stage, with adverse effects on the law-abiding people of other regions residing in or passing through the East, while the Igbo leaders and elders by their utterances and direct action or inaction appear to support and encourage it.
This is happening irrespective of the undisputable fact that, Igbos have done and are doing more damage to our collective nationhood than any other ethnic group; being responsible for the first violent interference with democracy in Nigeria resulting in a prolonged counter-productive chain of military dictatorship. It is on record that since the inception of the current democratic dispensation, the Igbos have shown and maintained open contempt and resentment for the collective decision expressed by majority of Nigerians at various stages via generally acceptable democratic processes.
While these provocative acts of aggression persist and grow in dimension with each new move, leaders of the North whose people are at the receiving end of the threats, appear helplessly unperturbed. Without pursuing a resolute action-plan, these northern leaders have adopted and have been dragging its people into a pitifully pacifist position in order to sustain an elusive national cohesion that has long been ridiculed by the Igbos. From today, June 6, 2017, when this
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/northern-youths-reportedly-ask-igbos-to.html

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State on Media and Strategic Communications, Prince Oliver Okpala has described as untrue and

complete falsehood the allegation by the opposition that Governor Obiano is funding the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
He also described the allegation that Governor Obiano gave cash donations and Sports Utility Vehicles to the organisations and its leaders as false, satanic and worrisome.
Prince Okpala said that such unfounded allegations were ungodly and capable of creating unnecessary tension in the polity.
Continuing, he described Governor Willie Obiano as a consummate financial expert who has been managing the State's scarce resources with prudence, emphasising that government expenditures are judiciously made in line with laid down procedures.
Prince Okpala wondered what people stand to gain by peddling rumours and lies instead of engaging in meaningful and beneficial activities. He appealed to politicians in the country to enthrone civility, decorum, good conduct and truthfulness in their political campaigns and activities.
"Overheating the polity when INEC electoral timetable for Anambra state says that campaigns would commence in August 2017 is a clear indication that some politicians in the opposition are not prepared to play by the rules", Prince Okpala said.
Continuing, he said; "Our decision as law abiding citizens to play politics according to the rules and to eschew bitterness, falsehood and indecent approach to political issues should not be taken for weakness as nobody has monopoly to the articulation of dangerous propaganda as an instrument of political warfare". "Certainly, if these pleas are not heeded, we shall not have any alternative than to return fire for fire and that may have a catastrophic effect on the smooth conduct of the election. A word is enough for the wise", Prince Okpala concluded.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/obiano-is-not-funding-ipob-and-massob.html

Mr Segun Awolowo, the Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), says government must invest more in the fashion/textile industry to solve the rate of unemployment in the country.

Awolowo said that the industry was a viable sector to invest in because the country is blessed with a vast land to cultivate cotton; the major raw material required by the fashion industry.
He said these as the grand finale of the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN) 2017 held at the National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos.
According to him, the country’s goal is to position the manufacturing industry as a viable sector for boosting the non-oil export sector so as to increase its economic growth.The NEPC boss said the government would be achieving this by investing in the textile industry that would serve as the spring board for the resuscitation of the fashion industry.
Awolowo commended Ronke Ademiluyi, the founder of AFWN for initiating the fashion show that tends to promote African fabrics and designs.
He advised the exhibitors and designers to improve on their present standards so that their products would be able to compete with their peers internationally.
“ The fashion industry presents a great opportunity in boosting our country’s export globally.
“The government recognises these potential in our fashion designers and exhibitors but they need to improve on the values and contents of their products.
“ Ademiluyi has demonstrated that Nigerians will sustain this initiative in response to the government’s projection going by her activities,” he said.Also, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, advised the government to empower the country’s youths so that they could become self-reliant, self-dependent and self-sustaining.
Oba Ogunwusi, the patron of AFWN, represented by Chief Adebanjo Adetinu said that the government could achieve this by identifying and supporting the creativity potential among youths.
The traditional ruler said this was projected in the Africa fashion week programmes where fashion designers and exhibitors displayed their talents to the admiration of the guests and visitors.
Ogunwusi, the grand patron of AFWN, said the artistic creativity of both the models and designers would fill up the vacuum created by unemployment among youths.
“Such an innovation by Ronke Ademiluyi is filling the vacuum created by unemployment among our youths.
“She only needs more sponsors to boost the project,” he said.
Another community leader from Ife, Chief Babatunde Adetokunbo, advised other fashion promoters to emulate AFWN by celebrating and boosting the nation’s culture and tradition through their creativity.
“Our culture is worth celebrating; we should be proud of it.
“What Ronke is doing is worth emulating, we should display and celebrate our culture, it is unique and I am proud of it,” he said.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/govt-can-solve-unemployment-by.html

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has undertaken to offset the medical expenses of Maryam Abubakar, an indigene of the state suffering from cancer and presently receiving treatment at an Indian hospital.

Abubakar’s case went viral under the hash-tag SUPPORTMARYAM, which elicited various online donations from good Samaritans who sympathised with her.
Tambuwal announced his intention to offset the bill in Sokoto on Tuesday through his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam.
The governor also urged the people, especially the Muslim faithful to pray for the success of the impending surgery and eventual recovery.
“Maryam is one of us and everything possible will be done by the state government to ensure her full recovery,” he said.
The patient, a staff nurse at the state Specialist Hospital, is an indigene of Gilbadi village of Gada Local Government Area of the state.
She was diagnosed with liver cancer in India in 2016 and requires N4 million for a “definitive and life-saving surgery” where the diseased part of the liver will be removed.
Speaking in Sokoto, one of the promoters of the #SUPPORTMARYAM appeal, Dr Auwal Ahmed commended Tambuwal for the gesture and prayed to God for Maryam’s quick recovery.
“The governor has intervened in other areas for citizens in need of help. This is commendable and we pray to God to reward him,” he said.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/tambuwal-to-pay-n4m-medical-bill-of.html

The Federal University, Dutsinma, Katsina State, has been shut following tension over reinstatement of its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Kaita, who was fired by the university’s management over alleged financial misappropriation, but recently reinstated by a court order.

His attempt to resume office last Friday led to a build up of tension between his sympathisers and those in support of his ousting. An eyewitness said some of the students on Friday showed their disapproval of the VC’s reinstatement by shouting slogans to kick against his recall, while those in support of the his return tried to confront them.

It was learnt that the situation led to division of students and staff along religious lines.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/katsina-federal-university-shut-over-vc.html

Although a thick cloud of uncertainty is still hanging over President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term ambition, no fewer than four strong contenders of Northern extraction are now jostling for the coveted seat, trying to build bridges across the geo-political zones of the country ahead of the next general elections. These include: former vice president Atiku Abubakar, erstwhile governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, his counterpart in Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso and former National Security Adviser to the late Head of State Gen Sani Abacha, Hamzah Al-Mustapha.
It is no longer news that Atiku is still nursing the ambition to rule this country. He has been in the race since 2007 and his body language still gives a clear impression that his eyes are still very much on the exalted seat.
In several of his outings in the recent past, he had thrown up different controversies on some national issues, which seem to suggest that he is not on the same page with the present administration. For instance, at the recent launch of a newspaper publication in Abuja, he was quoted as saying: “Controversies have sometimes threatened the very existence of our country. The country is truly at a crossroads and things are made worse by the cocktail of economic, social and political problems which we have had to contend with.”
“Poor GDP growth rate, millions of school age children, out of school – I believe with the right kind of leadership, the right kind of vision, we can transform this country in less than eight years.” He has also remained a consistent advocate of restructuring, which some people believe is a subtle way to woo like minds from the southern part of the country.
It is, however, not yet clear on which platform he is going to actualize his dream. Though a founding member of the ruling APC, there are strong indications that the former number two citizen might eventually settle for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the event that Buhari decides to go for the race or anoint a particular candidate. The former vice-president had left the PDP twice. Following the power play and intrigues between him and his former boss in the build up to the 2007 general elections; he ditched the PDP and ran against the late president Musa Umar Yar’Adua on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). He was initially disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commission over an alleged financial misconduct by an investigative panel of inquiry set up by Obasanjo. It took the intervention of the Supreme Court to allow him to contest the 2007 election. He also contested the presidential ticket of the APC against Buhari in 2015, but was defeated.
Perhaps, preempting what may happen, if the APC denies him the ticket, Atiku is now said to be holding talks with the leaders of the PDP for the presidential ticket. For this move, Sunday Sun gathered that he may have to contend with former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, who, according to a reliable source, had already intimated all the 36 state chairmen of the party of his presidential ambition. “As a party, our door is open to any of our old members. But I can assure you that we won’t make the mistake of giving the ticket of our party to someone whom we cannot trust. With due respect to former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Lamido has been a consistent member of our party. I am saying this without prejudice to Atiku’s role as a founding member as well as his formidable structure, the source told Sunday Sun.
Beyond the issue of platform, Atiku has been meeting prominent political, traditional and religious leaders across the country in the past couple of months as a way to re-engineer his formidable structure. For instance, in the South-south, there is an insinuation about his alleged romance with ex-governor James Ibori, who just regained his freedom from a United Kingdom, UK prison. This speculation followed his recent visit to the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE, in the company of Chief Ayirimi Emami, a strong loyalist of James Ibori.
Atiku and Ibori are no strange bedfellows. Both had opposed the second term ambition of former president Obasanjo before other governors intervened and prevailed on Atiku to step down from seeking for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2003.
Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, while speaking with Sunday Sun neither denied nor confirmed the speculation. He, however, insisted that his boss remained committed to the success of the Buhari administration, adding that it was too early to begin to talk about the 2019 elections. His words: “The reality is that right now, his Excellency is still pre-occupied with providing support to the Buhari administration.
His commitment is to see how his government can overcome the current socio-economic challenges facing us as a nation. There is a mandate already. That mandate might have gone half way, but it is still a mandate. Being a former vice president, there are things he can do to help the present government. Besides, he is a loyal party man. So, I cannot confirm to you all the speculations about his presidential ambition. At the same time, I will not want to dismiss the speculations in the media as a figment of imagination of some people because the media have to take a global outlook.”
He dismissed insinuation about Atiku’s alleged romance with the PDP, saying: “How can he be a member of the APC and then be holding talks with PDP? People can say all sorts of things. But I am telling you that it is not true. As I am talking to you now, he is a member of APC. After he lost the ticket to President Muhammadu Buhari, he committed his assets to helping him and he has continued to support him. As I said, his commitment is to help the president succeed.”
Unlike his other contenders, former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has not hidden his desire to contest the 2019 presidential race. One striking thing about Lamido’s ambition is that he is not thinking of any alternative platform to actualise his dream in spite of the leadership challenges confronting the PDP. As a founding member, he believes very strongly that the party would overcome its current crisis and give APC a good fight in the next general elections. His optimism derives from the fact that the Jigawa State chapter of the party remains very strong and intact even in the face of the leadership tussle at the national level.
Perhaps, one issue Lamido may have to contend with as he pursues his ambition is the alleged move by Atiku to stage a comeback in PDP. While Atiku had dumped the party twice for alternative platforms in the previous elections, Lamido has remained a consistent supporter of the party. But some analysts say the latter’s formidable structure could throw Lamido’s calculation off the guard. Somehow, he might have put Atiku on the defensive with the rapport he had already built with all the 36 state chairmen of the PDP ahead of other aspirants.
Lamido, exuding confidence in an exclusive interview with Sunday Sun, expressed optimism that PDP would bounce back in full force. “The PDP may have crisis at the national level, but the truth of the matter is that the structure of the party is still very intact at various state levels. Already, I have met with the 36 state chairmen of our party and intimated them of my ambition. And I can assure you that with the PDP platform, I will beat Buhari and the APC in 2019”, he said.
Former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is also not leaving any stone unturned in his aspiration to govern the country. In 2015, he contested the presidential ticket of the APC against President Buhari and emerged the second leading candidate. Ahead of the 2019 election, Sunday Sun gathered that he had put structures in place across the 36 states of the federation.
Interestingly, back at home, Kwankwaso has been having a running battle with his former deputy who is now the governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. The alleged frosty relationship between him and the governor has been seen by many as a handiwork of the cabal in the presidency who feels that there is a need to decimate his political following ahead of the 2019 Presidential election to forestall a repeat of what happened in 2015 primaries held at Onikan Stadium in Lagos. But while Kwankwaso’s political structure, the Kwankwasiyya, which he had established before the 2011 general elections has been literally routed in the face of the lingering face off, his network has expanded to other states of the federation with effective coordinators on ground.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/2019-northerners-gunning-for-buharis.html

The Federal Government on Friday alerted the public to the outbreak of Avian Influenza or Bird Flu in the FCT and seven states of the country.

raised the alert at a meeting with state Commissioners of Agriculture in Abuja on Friday.

Mshelbwala listed the states affected by the outbreak to include Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Nasarawa, Plateau, FCT and lastly, which reported a case on May 30.

He said that the disease had spread across 26 states of the federation and the FCT since it started in 2008 affecting 800 farms in no fewer than 123 local government areas.


Mshelbwala, who said that there were no scientifically proven vaccines for bird flu, noted that the Federal Government was adopting quarantine, movement control, stamping out, decontamination and bio-security measures to curb the spread.

The director expressed regret over the poor bio-security practices by some poultry farmers, adding that it was the major reason for the continuous spread of the disease.

According to him, the Federal Government has paid over N674 million in compensations to 269 farmers across the affected states.

“Our national action plan encourages proper regulation of the poultry industry and enforcement of annual registration of all actors along the poultry value chain including farmers, traders, egg merchants and feed millers.

“It also encourages the creation of veterinary extension services to facilitate the control and proper inspection of poultry and poultry products,’’ he said.

Mshelbwala said that the way forward to the containment of the disease was to ban importation of poultry and products, quarantine and bio-security measures, among others.

more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/fg-alerts-on-birdflu-outbreak-of-in-7.html

Mr. Simeon Fowowe, the Head of Department, Early Childhood Care Education (ECCE), Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) has commended the Lagos state government for initiating digital library.

Fowowe made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
While commending Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for the initiative, Fowowe, however, called for inclusion of ECCE in the project implementation.
He observed that the library lacked instructional and research materials on early childhood care education.“As equipped as the digital library is, there are no instructional materials for early childhood caregivers or professionals to assess the development.
“Gov. Ambode Akinwunmi recently blazed the trail in the digital library project when he unveiled the first of its kind via an online portal.
“But as beautiful and laudable as the library project is, there is no provision for early childhood education for repository contents where caregivers and the trainers of the teacher can access materials for professional development,’’ he said.
According to him, the digital library should provide repository contents for primary, secondary students and even for vocational and entrepreneurship trainees.
Fowowe, therefore, appealed to the state government to consolidate the existing structure such as pre–schools, where the foundation of formal education begins.
He urged the government to give priority to the recruitment of right professionals, the inclusion of early childhood education in the digital library project and the online portal.The Don said that with two colleges of education in the state, Lagos had overcome the challenge of scarcity of ECCE professionals and caregivers.
“It is the teaching and stimulation from these professionals in ECCE that can guarantee effective teaching and learning at these levels,’’
NAN reports that Ambode had on April 28 launched a digital library to provide access to educational materials through a collection of digital contents via the online portal.
The library will provide a repository of contents that include 2,000 study aids on core subjects for primary and secondary school curriculum.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/lasg-commended-on-digital-library.html

The National Task Group on Sanitation has advised the Benue and Cross River Governments to speedily pay up their counterpart funds to scale up sanitation and hygiene in their states.

The Group’s Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Awe, gave the advice on Friday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, at the end of a meeting of sanitation stakeholders.
He said that the Global Sanitation Fund, sponsors of the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) programme, had threatened to withdraw funding by September if the two states failed to pay up.
Awe reiterated that the organisation warned that if Benue and Cross River failed to meet the demand, it would stop funding the programme in the states.He said that it was saddening to note that the two states failed to pay the counterpart funds for the upgrade of the programme.
Awe, who is also the Director, Water Quality Control, and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, noted that the lack of water and sanitation facilities could hinder the people’s economy, health, and productivity.
He reminded Benue and Cross River state governments that the payment of the counterpart funds would spur the scaling up of the RUSHPIN programme in their states while reducing disease prevalence among the citizens.
NAN recalls that the RUSHPIN Programme Manager, Mr. Nanpet Chuktu, said that within four years of programme implementation, 1,859 community members had been reached with hygiene messages.
Chuktu said that more than 600,000 people now lived in open defecation-free communities in six local government areas in Benue and Cross River.
He said that the agency used the Community Led-Total Sanitation (CLTS) model to encourage the communities to build and use toilets while adopting behavioral change as a means of promoting hygienic habits.NAN also recalls that when the Federal Government signed the Memorandum of Understanding with GSF in 2014, the design was for the global body to provide 5 million U.S. dollars for the project implementation.
He said that for the programme to be implemented in Benue and Cross River, the states were expected to commit 2.2 million dollars each towards the project while incorporating addition three local government areas into its coverage.
According to the Global Open Defecation index, Nigeria ranks fifth as regards countries practising open defecation, while 868,000 children die or experience stunted growth annually as a result of open defecation.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/sanitation-group-urges-benue-cross.html

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has visited the families of two women, who were raped and killed by herdsmen in Ewu, Esan Central Local Government Area.
He described activities of the herdsmen as threat to national security.
According to him, the suspected herdsmen raping and killing women in the state are terrorists, who fled from the North-East. The deceased, two elderly women, identified as
Mrs Christiana Ariu from Eko-Ojeme quarters and Mrs Matina Emonyon from Uzogolo quarters, both in Ewu community, were, last week, raped and killed in their various farms by suspected herdsmen.
Traditional ruler of Ekperi, Deke Kanoba, the Ijiegbai of Ekperi, had, in March this year, raised the alarm that his subjects may not go to farm this farming season over presence of suspected runaway Boko Haram members at a forest in his locality.
Regardless, Obaseki assured the people his administration would deal with the menace within the next few weeks as he has ordered security to be beefed up in the area from the boundaries of Kogi State.
“These are not just herdsmen, they are Boko Haram terrorists but we are working hard to put an end to this.
“In a matter of weeks, we are coming out with certain measures to stop these attacks. We will rely on timely accurate information from all communities. I am going to see the Inspector General of Police on this matter.
“Don’t be scared of going to your farms. We have stepped up security in this area, from Kogi State,” he said, even as he promised to ensure autopsy are conducted on the corpses of the two women.
The governor also visited Ehimen Abuya, one of the villagers at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, who was allegedly shot at by soldiers during a protest against the killing of the two women.
The victim, whose leg would soon be amputated, told the governor they were on a peaceful protest against the herdsmen attack when they were shot at by soldiers.
Obaseki promised to pay the medical bills, provide artificial lower limb and give adequate assistance to integrate him back to the society.
The community spokesman, Sydney Ikhajiagba, said members of the community are now living in fear and that the women are scared of going to the farm.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/killer-herdsmen-threat-to-national.html

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement on Thursday summoned the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, over alleged payment of N17 billion for procurement of office equipment.
It also summoned the Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, and former Accountant-General of the Federation, Jonah Otunla, over the same transaction. The three top officials are to appear before the committee members next Tuesday.
Their invitation was sequel to their failure to appear at the public hearing on the allegation organised by the committee on Thursday.
Adeosun had sent the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Isa Dutse, to represent her but the lawmakers refused to accept any excuse for her absence at the investigative hearing.
Before issuing the summons, the Chairman of the committee, Oluwole Oke, said the three officials had violated the provisions of Section 15 of the Public Procurement Act 2007 as it pertained to the role of procurement entities.
He told the Permanent Secretary that the Minister must provide documents that include the president’s approval for the contract agreement signed with the contractors and record of payment of the contract by the Ministry.
He said the summons became necessary because there was a document from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation showing that they had paid N17 billion on the contract.
Oke added that public procurement regulation was the only way to curb corruption in the country.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/reps-summon-adeosun-agf-over-n17bn.html

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) yesterday approved appointments into various parastatals, agencies and commissions.
According a statement signed by Chris Okeke for the Director of Press, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the appointments with immediate effect and subject to the confirmation of the Senate. The appointments mainly affected the National Pension Commission (Pencom), Bank of Industry (BoI) and Consumer Protection Council (CPC).
Alhaji Ali Usman was appointed the Chairman, National Pension Commission, while Mr. Funso Doherty was named the Director-General of the same commission. He replaced Mrs Chinelo Anohu- Amazu, who was relieved of her appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari in April. Other appointments effected at the Pencom included, Manase Benga, Zaki Magawata, Ben Oviosun and Nyerere Ayim as Executive Commissioners. All the six appointments at Pencom are subject to the confirmation of the Senate. Dikko Aliyu AbdulRahman was appointed the Chairman, Governing Board of (BoI) while Mr. Olukayode Pitan was made the bank’s Managing Director. He replaced Waheed Olagunju, who hitherto was the Acting Managing Director.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/osinbajo-makes-first-appointments-as.html

Pandemonium broke out in Okene, Kogi State, on Monday, last week, when a truck driver was allegedly shot dead by soldiers. The killing, it was gathered, caused no small stirs as it almost degenerated to a total break down of law and order in the town.
The driver, identified as Ibrahim Ayinla, 30 years old, was coming from Lagos and heading to Abuja. He was flagged down by some operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), at the Ogori Mangogo end of the highway.
He allegedly refused to stop, which made the corps to give him a“hot chase and at the same time sent a distress call to soldiers at the Total filing station, Okene. Immediately the soldiers sighted the truck, they were said to have just opened fire on the driver and killed him instantly.
It was also learnt that, a truck boy, Segun Gabriel, got his leg broken while the third occupant, Murtala Suleiman, sustained serious injuries from gunshot. According to an eyewitness account, the incident caused panic in the area as residents ran helter skeletal.
When Daily Sun visited the scene on Wednesday, the truck with registration number FKJ 436 XB belonging to Animashaun Integrated Services, Lagos, was seen parked at the Divisional Police Headquarters, Okene, riddled with bullets.
Narrating his experience at a private hospital in Okene where he was receiving treatment, Gabriel said the FRSC operatives actually flagged them down at Lampese, a town close to Ogori and about 20km drive to Okene because they thought they were carrying contraband. He said they explained to them they were only conveying electric cables to Abuja and they did a random check on the vehicle and asked them to go.
He said as the driver put on the engine to take off, a certain officer beckoned on to them again but the ignored him and drove away. After moving for about five kilometers, he said unknown to them the officers were trailing them with a motorcycle and had already alerted the soldiers in Okene.
He said as soon they got to the soldiers’ checkpoint, at the Total filing station, Okene, the soldiers on sighting them opened fire and killed the driver instantly. They shot him in the leg and the third person said to be in a critical condition was also hit by the bullets. He said the killed driver was from Ile Eleran, Ilorin, Kwara State, and his wife is currently nursing a three-month-old baby.
When contacted, the state Sector Commander FRSC, Mr. Segun Martins, confirmed the death of the driver, and said his men actually conveyed the remains to the mortuary. He, however, said the driver when stopped proved stubborn, as he was booked of two offences of over loading and excess lights. He claimed the driver deliberately jumped into his vehicle and zoomed off abducting one of his officers.
He said this made his boys to immediately contact the soldiers to help rescue his officer who he said was “abducted” by the driver. He said with the behavior of the driver after evading three checkpoints, his officers assumed he was a kidnapper and had to alert the soldiers at the checkpoints.
When our correspondent called on the Kogi State Commander, Mr Segun Martins on his mobile phone to avail us of the name of his officer that he claimed the driver abducted, he promised to call his men
at the scene of the incident to give out the name.
Two hours later, when our correspondent called back the mobile phone for the name, there was no response . our correspondent therefore decided to meet him in his office situated at the back side of the Lokoja local government Secretariat, but he was told that the sector commander was in a meeting.
After waiting for about two hours, our Correspondent, decided to leave the office but with a text message to the FTSC boss, but as t the time of filing in this report, the response was yet to be received.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Willy Eya, also confirmed the incident. He said the police have taken over the case for investigation.
The spokesman at the Army Records Barracks, Lokoja, Capt. Wari Finikumor, denied soldiers killed the driver. He said the soldiers were doing their legitimate duty until the FRSC men sent a distress call to them. He said they (FRSC) alleged that one of their officers was abducted by a truck driver who evaded arrest at three previous checkpoints.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/see-how-truck-driver-was-killed-at-army.html

A secondary school teacher, 37-year-old Samson Owonaro, on Thursday appeared in a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos charged with defrauding three of his students’ parents of N189,000.

He was, however, released on bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum on the orders of Magistrate Omolaja
Kazeem.

Owonaro, who teaches Economics at a private school in Okota Estate, Ajah, Lagos, is facing a six-count bordering on fraud and theft.

He, however, pleaded innocence of the offences.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Philip Osijiale, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in February at Sangotedo,
Ajah.
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He said Owonaro defrauded three parents of N189,000 on the pretext of obtaining West Africa Examinations Council 2017 forms for their children and registering them for the exam.

“The accused did not register the three students for the exam which started on Feb. 20 and ended on May 15 and also failed to refund the money. ”

The offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (revised).
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/teacher-faces-n189000-waec-fees-fraud.html

Efe Ejeba, winner of the 2017 Big Brother Naija reality show is currently on location to shoot his much awaited music video, “Based on logistics’’.

The 23-year old rapper took to his twitter handle @EfeMoney to announce the development.
“Today we are moving through God’s grace…#basedonlogistics #videoshoot #BTS…na today…no be lie.’’
Efe, since his win, has been enjoying his celebrity status with some endorsements and appearances.
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He was appointed Ambassador for Entertainment by the Plateau State Government and also graced Thisday Style magazine cover.
Efe who is a graduate of Economics from the University of Jos, released an Extended Play (EP) titled “Lagos’’ before going into the Big Brother reality TV show.
Ese who from Delta state, was recently crowned as the Prince of Okpe Kingdom by the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Chief Felix Mujakperuo.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/efe-to-shoot-his-much-awaited-music.html

Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday, joined other members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to mourn the passage of Chukwuma Onuekwusi, a reporter with Channels Television, who was assigned to cover the State House.

Late Onuekwusi was born in 1962. He died after a brief illness at the early hours of Tuesday.

Before deliberations for the meeting commenced proper, Osinbajo told other cabinet members about his passage and urged all of them to stand up and observe a minute silence.

That done, the Acting President said he received the news of the reporter’s demise on a very sad note.
He described him as an articulate and patriotic journalist who remained committed to his job until the very last day.
“I want us in recognition of the fact that we remember a very good, a very articulate and also a very patriotic and committed journalist, I want us in honour of this fine gentleman rise and observe a minute silence.
“We pray for the comfort of his family and all of those he left behind. Amen,” Osinbajo said.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki also said he was saddened by the death of Onuekwusi when he received the news.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/osinbajo-saraki-fec-members-mourn-late.html

Hundreds of APGA youths from the twenty-one Local Government Areas of Anambra state yesterday staged a peaceful protest against the Enugu High Court ruling

recognizing Chief Martins Agbaso as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance APGA.
The peaceful protest took place at the APGA Secretariat in Awka.
The youths displayed placards with various inscriptions such as Justice Ozoemena stop oppressing APGA”, “We Anambra reject Kangoroo judgment”, Chief Victor Oye is Our National Chairman” among others.
Addressing the youths, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Sir Nobert Obi informed them that APGA has dissociated itself from the judgment because Chief Agbaso and his group obtained it through illegal means.
Sir Nobert, said that the leadership of APGA has swung into action to make sure that the judgment does not stand and commended the youths for showing solidarity with Chief Victor Oye.
On his part, the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mr Chinedu Nnebeife described the Enugu High Court ruling as one aimed at destabilizing APGA, adding that someone who had been expelled from a party cannot be its National Chairman.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilization, Mr Tony Uche-Ezekwelu added that Chief Victor Oye remains the National Chairman of APGA pending when his tenure elapses.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/apga-youths-protest-enugu-high-court.html

The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, on Tuesday, condoled with the family of late Wazirin Adamawa, Alhaji Mohammadu Abba.

The condolence message was in a statement made available to newsmen by Mrs Buhari’s Director of Information, Mr Suleiman Haruna in Abuja.

The wife of the President noted the immense contributions of the deceased to humanity and prayed Allah to forgive him and grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
The deceased was the second in command in Adamawa Emirate council after the Lamido.Mrs Buhari also condoled with the family of late Muhammadu Malabu in Yola.
The deceased were both buried according to Islamic injunctions.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/mrs-buhari-condoles-with-wazirin.html

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has dismissed calls for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari due to his health condition.

The Forum said the call for Buhari’s resignation was unconstitutional and misplaced.

Specifically, the ACF said those calling for the resignation of President Buhari because of his health condition are not current with the provisions of the nation’s constitution.In a statement issued at the weekend by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, the ACF also pointed out that under the prevailing circumstance, there is no vaccum in the Presidency because Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is the Acting President and is performing the duties of the President effectively.
The statement read: “President Buhari’s ill-health: Nigeria is practising a presidential system of government as contained in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“President Buhari has done what is constitutionally required of him to do by his letter to the leadership of the National Assembly. The Vice President is now Acting President, performing the duties of the President.

“In other countries, when the president falls sick or becomes incapacitated while in office, the citizens encourage him through prayers and good wishes, rather than intimidation or calling for his resignation.

“We can draw a lesson from such countries and wish President Buhari well for the progress of our country.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/arewa-condemns-calls-for-buharis.html?m=1

There is anxiety within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Supreme Court commences hearing on the party’s leaderships tussle today.

The apex court is adjudicating over an appeal filed by the PDP Caretaker Committee challenging the Appeal Court, Port Harcourt judgment, which affirmed Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the national chairman of the party.

The Appeal Court in its judgment also declared the PDP May 21, 2016 National Convention, where the caretaker committee was appointed after the dissolution of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by Sheriff , as null and void.

Sheriff, through his counsel, Akinlolu Olujinmi (SAN), had filed a motion challenging the competence of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee to file the appeal in the name of the PDP.

The Supreme Court, it was gathered, would be taking the motion alongside the substantive suit.

Recently, activities at the National Headquarter of the PDP, Wadata House, where Sheriff operates from have grounded to a halt.

Apart from the presence of security officials and party officials who breeze into the secretariat once in a while, the PDP headquarter is more or less a dead zone.

Party sources said this is because of apprehension over where the Supreme Court judgment would swing to.

Daily Sun gathered that the Sheriff group has put on hold some of its planned programme, pending the ruling of the Supreme Court on its motion challenging the locus of the caretaker committee to file an appeal in the name of the PDP, without the permission of the national chairman.

Also, activities in the temporary secretariat of the caretaker committee located in Wuse, in the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT), Abuja has also died down completely.

However, both Sheriff and Makarfi camps told Daily Sun yesterday, in separate telephone interviews, that it is not true that they are apprehensive over the Supreme Court case.

According to Sheriff’s deputy, Cairo Ojoughoh, they are on the side of the law, so there is no need to be afraid.

“Why would we be apprehensive when we are on the side of the law. We are sure that the Supreme Court will do what is right,” Ojoughoh stated.

On his part, the legal adviser of the caretaker committee, Dave Iorhemba, said the committee has a good case.

He said: “We are not apprehensive. Our case is good. We want the Supreme Court to make a prouncement on the place of party convention in the affairs of political party, not just the PDP. We have a good case before the court.”

This is coming as the Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon Leo Ogor, has called on the Supreme Court to expedite on the PDP leaderships tussle.

Ogor, who said they are awaiting on the verdict of the apex, told Daily Sun in an interview that the earlier the Supreme Court gives its judgment on the party dispute, the better for the PDP.

The minority leader said the outcome of the Supreme Court case would determine their next action, noting that he is convinced that the caretaker committee did not get a fair judgment from the Appeal Court.

“For us, we wait on the Supreme Court. And like I have always said, justice delayed is justice denied. The Supreme Court will do us a major favour by coming out with a clear position as soon as possible, because various elections are taking place at the moment.

“And it is important that this matter is taken care of for once and for all.“I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that we didn’t get fair judgment from the Court of Appeal, that is why we have ran to the Supreme Court. Whatever decision that comes out from the Supreme Court, we will take our next step from there.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/pdp-anxiety-as-supreme-court-case.html?m=1

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it will watch recordings of proceedings in its Closed Circuit Camera Televisions (CCTVs) during the just-concluded Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said in a statement on Sunday in Lagos that such would enable it to detect where there actually examination malpractices.

According to Benjamin, where there is any semblance of irregularities, the board will not hesitate to do the needful, that is, sanction the cheats.Those who know they were involved in any acts inimical to our examination ethics should not celebrate as their inglorious days of punishment will soon surface.
“Again, we want to seize this opportunity to debunk messages being circulated by those who do not wish our education well that the Senate has passed a bill urging the board to add extra 40 marks to candidates.

“There is no bill anywhere, not even a motion has been tabled before the two chambers of the National Assembly on the board’s 2017 UTME performance,” the statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said.

“The board wants to state for the umpteenth time that our examination is not a ‘fail pass’ examination; it is a selection examination, so, it can never be said that there is mass failure.

“It will be absolutely wrong for mischief makers to begin to analyse an examination that has just been concluded without even looking at the overall result.

“We urge candidates to disregard all funny connotations online on their results as the board will not contemplate doing all that is being speculated as that will negate the ethics of an examination body as critical as JAMB.’’

It added that the board’s major concern had always been to ensure that cheating during and after examination were reduced to zero level, and this, he said, the board had substantially achieved.

It also noted that in order to ensure that the 2017 UTME met international best standards of transparency, the Registrar had constituted a taskforce with the mandate to examine the entire conduct of the examination

The statement said the taskforce was expected to look at the fortification processes done by the board, identify areas of loopholes in various centres if any and consider cases that would require urgent action, especiallyAccording to the statement, the taskforce is also expected to investigate malpractice cases and recommend likely sanctions in accordance with the provisions of the Examination Malpractice Act.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/jamb-will-watch-cctv-examination.html?m=1

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Henry Seriak‎e Dickson has once again called on all Niger Delta leaders to close ranks and rededicate themselves to the development of the Niger Delta in order to change the narrative of underdevelopment plaguing the region.
The governor said it was worrisome that privileged Bayelsans and by extension those from other Niger Delta states who occupied and are still occupying various political offices would prefer to concern themselves with mundane things rather than the development of the region.
The governor stated this yesterday at the Government House, Yenagoa while addressing the board and management of the Niger Delta Commission (NDDC) led by the chairman, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba who paid him a courtesy call.
Dickson therefore charged the new NDDC board not to follow same path as the Niger Delta region is highly in need of development, lamenting that over sixty years after oil was first discovered in Bayelsa most of the communities with abundant resources are still not connected by road to the state capital.
“Till today, 61 years after the discovery of oil and gas, there is no road to get to Brass Oil terminal and even as we speak that is where oil is being lifted day and night. No road as we speak to Oporoma, Koluama. We are not a happy people. No investment on human capacity development. Young people from our region have all become militants who carry AK-47 rifles and these are young generation that should have helped develop our land which we have now lost”.
“The only thing they are good for is to struggle for surveillance contracts while others smile to the banks locally and internationally. People flaunting oilwells and parading wealth rooted in oil wealth acquisition. What people sit in Abuja call oil blocks are ancestral properties of people of the Niger Delta.”
While congratulating them on their well deserved appointments, Dickson also expressed his administration’s readiness to partner with the commission to achieve greater goal and advised that they should concentrate on critical projects in the state and leave the building of schools and health facilities for his government which it has been embarking on with remarkable success since assumption of office in 2012.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/were-in-hurry-for-development-dickson.html?m=1

Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has described as “totally untrue, false and offensive” the claim that he travelled with 179 people to mark his daughter’s graduation in the United States.
In a statement yesterday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, James Eze
, the governor described the claim as “the worst lie ever told by a disappointingly unintelligent opposition and its propaganda machinery.”
The statement read in part: “After watching with horror, as what began like a cheap, despicable gossip on the social media slowly began to assume all the qualities of a serious propaganda, with some poorly informed politicians latching onto it to burnish their faded glory, we consider it necessary at this point to put a disclaimer on the story suggesting that the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano had travelled to the U.S. with 179 people to be with his daughter on her graduation day.
“This story is the worst lie ever told by a disappointingly unintelligent opposition and its propaganda machinery. The truth however is that the governor travelled to his daughter’s graduation alone. Anyone seen around him in the US travelled on their own.
“It is totally incredulous to suggest that Governor Obiano, who in all his three years in office has never travelled overseas with any of his closest aides, would suddenly open the floodgates and travel with 179 people to a mere graduation in the U.S. It is even more ridiculous to believe that any governor of Anambra State (not a banana republic, mark you) would conceive of such an idea in the 21st Century.”
It added: “We challenge anyone who has a contrary evidence to produce it. Nevertheless, it would help to recall that since he assumed office, Governor Willie Obiano has chalked up an impressive record in integrity and transparency. Under his watch, Anambra State was rated the Most Transparent government in Nigeria in 2015 by the Federation Accounts Sub-Committee on International Public Sector Accounting System (IPSAS). Obiano is also a winner of the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Award from the Ethics and Corporate Compliance Institute of Nigeria in 2015. He also won the Zik Prize for Good Governance in 2015. All these endorsements mean a lot to him.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/gov-obiano-denies-travelling-to-us-with.html?m=1

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday confirmed that another Chibok schoolgirl had been found, barely 12 days after the release of the 82 abducted girls by their captors.

Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, who made this known to State House correspondents in Abuja, said the recovery of the girl was announced by the acting president during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.

According to her, the affected girl has been brought to Abuja to join her colleagues who were rescued from captivity.


“Yes, at the Federal Executive Council’s meeting, the Vice-President broke the cheering news to members of the cabinet and after that I have also spoken to defence people who confirmed it.

“The details are yet to fully unravel. But in terms of is it true- yes, it is true. I learnt she is already being brought to Abuja, but I have not seen her.

The presidential aide expressed the hope that the remaining Chibok schoolgirls and other Nigerians in captivity would soon be rescued.

He also dismissed the assertion that members of the Boko Haram sect had started regrouping in the Sambisa forest, saying that the Federal Government had the capacity to confront any security challenges arising from any part of the country.
“One thing you can be sure of is that this government has the capacity to confront any security challenge that arises.

“So, if they are regrouping they will be flushed out again.
“I believe that we have seen the worst of that insurgency. We are in a mopping up process and I believe the mop up would be completed.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 82 girls were recently released by their captors in exchange for five Boko Haram

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/another-chibok-girl-rescued-presidency.html

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has issued a stern warning to all officers and soldiers in the Nigerian Army to steer clear of politics, disclosing that some politicians have been making frantic efforts to infiltrate his officers for various political “actions and gains”.


Buratai’s warning may not be unconnected to the air of uncertainty in the country arising from President Muhammadu Buhari’s illness, necessitating his return to the United Kingdom penultimate week to get medical treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

Although he fell short of elaborating on what the political “actions and gains” were, the COAS’ warning came on the heels of a report of an attempt by some politicians to infiltrate the military, particularly the Nigerian Army.

His concern may have also informed the reshuffling of top military officers in the Nigerian Army last week.
A statement issued by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Sani Usman, said the army headquarters and the COAS had received information about such “sinister plans” by some politicians to derail the professional calling of some army officers.

Usman said in the statement: “This is to inform the public that the Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army and Lieutenant-General TY Buratai have received information that some individuals have been approaching some officers and soldiers for undisclosed political reasons.

“On the basis of that, he has warned such persons to desist from these acts.
“He also reminded them that the Nigerian Army is a thorough professional, disciplined, loyal and apolitical institution that has clear constitutional roles and responsibilities.
“He seriously warned and advised all officers and soldiers interested in politics to resign their commission or apply for voluntary discharge forthwith.”

According to Usman, any officer or soldier of the Nigerian Army found to be hobnobbing with such elements or engaged in unprofessional conduct such as politicking would have himself or herself to blame.
“The COAS has further reiterated that the Nigerian Army will remain apolitical and respect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he added.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/buratai-warns-officers-to-steer-clear.html

The Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee (NCC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked state chapters of the party to adopt alternative political parties for their candidates in the upcoming elections, pending the ruling of the Supreme Court on the leadership crisis rocking the party.


In a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, the Makarfi-led PDP said it took the decision in order to avoid the experience whereby Sheriff attempts to scuttle the chances of the party by fielding APC lackeys and surrogates as alternative candidates.
He said that the NCC was working with all the organs of the party and other relevant bodies to pursue the appeal filed at the Supreme Court to a logical conclusion.
Adeyeye accused the Sheriff leadership of creating factional chapters in different states of the federation in order to compromise the chances of the PDP in the upcoming local government elections.
He said the party deliberately decided not to run parallel congresses in Anambra State in order not to subject party members in the state to the agony of a disputed platform.
The full statement of the NCC read: “Our attention has been drawn to some news items to the effect that the National Caretaker Committee has instructed PDP members to use the platform of a newly registered party to contest the forthcoming local government elections in Lagos State and other states where local government elections are pending.
“In view of the misconception and unease which the issue has raised, we are constrained to make the following clarifications.
“The National Caretaker Committee is working with all the organs of the party, the BoT, the National Caucus, NEC, PDP Governors Forum, PDP State Chairmen’s Forum, PDP Ministers’ Forum, youths and women’s groups and other relevant bodies, to pursue the appeal filed at the Supreme Court to a logical conclusion.
“We have a good case and our grounds for appeal is solid. We believe ultimately that justice will be served on the leadership issue in our party and we are also confident that the judiciary will continue to remain independent, unbiased and neutral.
“Since the platform of our great party, the PDP, is currently in dispute, we recognise the anxiety of our patriotic and loyal members to avoid a repeat of the Edo and Ondo gubernatorial elections experiences where Senator Sheriff and his co-travellers tried to scuttle the chances of our members by fielding APC lackeys and surrogates as alternative candidates, in order to disturb, distract and dissipate the energy and concentration of our genuine candidates in those elections.
“It is indisputable that this was the main reason for our defeat, particularly in the Ondo governorship election. That was why we deliberately decided not to run parallel congresses in Anambra State, in order not to subject our party members in that state to the agony of a disputed platform.
“It is also important to state at this point that Senator Sheriff and his cohorts have been creating factional chapters in different states of the federation, in order to compromise our chances in the local government elections.
“In the circumstances and with no hope of the Ali Sheriff problem abating before the Supreme Court judgment, we are left with no choice than to consider ways by which our members will not be disenfranchised in these elections.
“However, our position is not to choose a platform for any state where true PDP candidates are denied the opportunity to stand for the elections. State chapters are allowed to take any decision they consider appropriate.
“We continue to pray for a positive outcome in the judgment of the Supreme Court so that the agony and pains of recent times may be finally put behind us.”
But in a swift reaction, the Sheriff-led faction of the PDP said on Tuesday that the party was open to any member who wishes to contest elections.
In a statement issued by Sheriff’s deputy, Cairo Ojougboh, the party said all primaries were open to PDP members, adding: “They are welcome to participate.”
Ojougboh added: “PDP has conducted successful local government elections in Ebonyi State and they were signed by Ali Modu Sheriff.
“We are currently preparing for elections in Cross River and other states. All our primaries are open to PDP members and they are welcome to participate.”
He said the PDP was an embodiment of great Nigerians, adding that its governors are performing “very well in their various states”.
“What surprises us is that Makarfi claims he has a strong appeal at the Supreme Court when the Court of Appeal has made it clear that Makarfi disobeyed violently the order of the courts in Lagos and Abuja.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/makarfi-led-pdp-asks-state-chapters-to.html